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The Best Preamp Ever. The Heathkit AA-11

97.95.43.235
Posted on October 3, 2016 at 03:42:27
Michael Samra
Dealer

Posts: 36118
Location: saginaw michigan
Joined: January 30, 2005








"
I was running this with the CARY/AES SET amps and this preamp really brings out the intricate details of the music like very few preamps can.It has a lot of tubes but not all are used for all functions..This is rebuilt and as you can see it has a nice potted choke and it uses the Baxandall tone controls. If anyone has one of these,I urge you to rebuild it because this unit is a babe.
I want to thank Stace,AKA geezerrocket for turning me on to this gem.
"For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong" H. L. Mencken

 

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RE: The Best Preamp Ever. The Heathkit AA-11, posted on October 3, 2016 at 07:46:54
geezerrocket
 No worries Mike.

You are always quick to help all of us ham fisted solder slingers.



 

RE: The Best Preamp Ever. The Heathkit AA-11, posted on October 3, 2016 at 08:21:52
airtime
Audiophile

Posts: 11287
Location: Arizona
Joined: February 4, 2003
 Now did Mrs. Geezerrocket make you get rid of this?

Dang you guys are having too much fun!

Like I posted over at AudioKarma. I wish I had the funds to have a nice vintage preamp restored. Unfortunately I am committed ($) to my Conrad Johnson. Or Mr.Clean as I call it.

 

Been looking for for years, now I'll never afford one ;), posted on October 3, 2016 at 09:40:11
ToddM
Audiophile

Posts: 1612
Location: Atlanta, USA
Joined: May 15, 2001
Contributor
  Since: June 13, 2005
 ... altho' the SP-2A is also pretty darn nice, I'm really enjoying one these days.

 

RE: The Best Preamp Ever. The Heathkit AA-11, posted on October 3, 2016 at 09:45:23
mark.korda@myfairpoint.net
Audiophile

Posts: 1253
Location: Maine
Joined: August 16, 2011
 Hi Mike,
When David Hafler left Dynaco in the late 70's his first preamp was the Hafler 101. Airtime can check me, but before his own named company the PAT-5 bi-fet was his last Dyna preamp.
Tubes didn't matter to me yet and the Hafler 101 non tube was getting rave reviews! I was tempted to save up and get a brand new preamp, that one.
The specs were all there. But one thing was keeping me back. It was those cheap looking black plastic spring switches. They didn't align right looking at them when one was pressed in. They remind me off the switches seen on your Heathkit.
You then showed an interior picture of the Heathkit preamp and it looks like a small factory going on behind those switches. It
looks like there was some money spent there by the Heath designer or designers.
Mike, could this be one of the reasons the Heathkit preamp you have sounds so good? Everyone on this forum trusts your ears...Bucko!...Richie just said that on the Happy Days, I'll turn the tv down.
As one of my unfinished projects are 2 mono Heathkit preamps that replaced the gold colored ones. I'd like to send you a picture, 1973 Shovel has shown me how, and see if you think it's worth pursuing....you too Airtime.....thanks youze guys...Mark Korda



 

RE: The Best Preamp Ever. The Heathkit AA-11, posted on October 3, 2016 at 11:54:55
Michael Samra
Dealer

Posts: 36118
Location: saginaw michigan
Joined: January 30, 2005
 Charlie
Stace found me the deal on it and told me about it.
"For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong" H. L. Mencken

 

RE: The Best Preamp Ever. The Heathkit AA-11, posted on October 3, 2016 at 15:10:13
briggs
Audiophile

Posts: 1674
Location: Connecticut
Joined: April 16, 2002
 Uhhh....no. How about the McIntosh C20?

 

RE: The Best Preamp Ever. The Heathkit AA-11, posted on October 3, 2016 at 18:24:09
geezerrocket
 Mikey;

How does the AA-11 compare with the Fisher 400 cx, Citation I, McIntosh C-20, and Audio Research SP3-A1?

Not the usual "this one is better" than.....As we know it's all about synergy so one of those aforementioned preamps may sound fantastic with horns and dreadful with stats. I want to know what their basic character is, as well as strengths and weaknesses.

Have you had a chance to evaluate the phono section of the Heathkit yet?

 

RE: The Best Preamp Ever. The Heathkit AA-11, posted on October 4, 2016 at 01:51:53
Michael Samra
Dealer

Posts: 36118
Location: saginaw michigan
Joined: January 30, 2005
 Stace
It sounds very detailed and very natural and very correct.It's very unique and it doesn't take anything away from the sound.The caps I used in the critical areas are the very expensive Soniccap Plats which are a teflon.
"For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong" H. L. Mencken

 

RE: The Best Preamp Ever. The Heathkit AA-11, posted on October 5, 2016 at 18:33:57
radioactive
Audiophile

Posts: 196
Location: winnipeg,manitoba
Joined: March 15, 2001
 Hi Mike, glad to see you finally found a aa 11 as I know you've been wanting to get one for awhile.did you happen to get a manual with yours?I recently inherited my friends aa 11 that I was suppose to get the manual photocopied for you but unfortunately it was not found.regards,
Chris
real radios glow in the dark...

 

RE: The Best Preamp Ever. The Heathkit AA-11, posted on October 6, 2016 at 12:02:58
Michael Samra
Dealer

Posts: 36118
Location: saginaw michigan
Joined: January 30, 2005
 No manual but,I have all the heathkit manuals on CD and I might be able to email it to you.
"For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong" H. L. Mencken

 

RE: The Best Preamp Ever. The Heathkit AA-11, posted on October 22, 2016 at 11:37:41
radioactive
Audiophile

Posts: 196
Location: winnipeg,manitoba
Joined: March 15, 2001
 Hi Mike, glad to see you finally found a aa 11 as I know you've been wanting to get one for awhile.did you happen to get a manual with yours?I recently inherited my friends aa 11 that I was suppose to get the manual photocopied for you but unfortunately it was not found.regards,
Chris
real radios glow in the dark...

 

RE: The Best Preamp Ever. The Heathkit AA-11, posted on November 15, 2016 at 19:40:32
geezerrocket
 Is it your daily driver Mike?


 

RE: The Best Preamp Ever. The Heathkit AA-11, posted on November 15, 2016 at 19:54:44
Michael Samra
Dealer

Posts: 36118
Location: saginaw michigan
Joined: January 30, 2005
 Yes
Right now it is.
"For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong" H. L. Mencken

 

RE: The Best Preamp Ever. The Heathkit AA-11, posted on November 16, 2016 at 03:44:36
rosendds@frontiernet.net
Audiophile

Posts: 599
Location: North East
Joined: November 13, 2010
 That says a lot.

 

RE: The Best Preamp Ever. The Heathkit AA-11, posted on June 24, 2018 at 18:28:11
noisehead
Audiophile

Posts: 3
Location: Middle Iowa
Joined: June 24, 2018
 Just purchased one of these. Not much information I can find, but I did find a post describing some difference between the first production and the later production units. I will post some pics when i receive preamp, no manual included. Cannot seem to find a quality download.

 

RE: The Best Preamp Ever. The Heathkit AA-11, posted on June 25, 2018 at 18:57:02
Craig25
Audiophile

Posts: 119
Joined: August 25, 2002
 You can get a pretty decent copy from Heathkit for 25 bucks, that includes shipping

 

RE: The Best Preamp Ever. The Heathkit AA-11, posted on June 26, 2018 at 07:11:40
noisehead
Audiophile

Posts: 3
Location: Middle Iowa
Joined: June 24, 2018
 Thank you for the info, I was delighted they are still around. I just ordered one from them, think it was described as 63 pages or so.

 

RE: The Best Preamp Ever. The Heathkit AA-11, posted on July 1, 2018 at 16:19:50
used-hifi
Audiophile

Posts: 1100
Location: Surprise AZ
Joined: March 18, 2003
 to bad its ugly as sin! LOL I mean what were they thinking....and as for the sound, its prob the couplers.


super ugly yuk!

 

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